Automatic steering attachment for motor vehicles



G. B. cooLlDGE Filed May 23.- 192,1 j.

AUTOMATIC STEERING ATTACHMENT FOR MOTOR VEHICLES @ein 23, w23.

Patented @ch 23, 1923,

Gaone-:i n. coonrnen, on noorronn, rLLIuors.

AUTOEATIC STEERNG ATTACHIHENT FOR- MOTOR VEHICLES.

Application le. May 23,

To all 'whom t may concern.'

Be it known that GEORGE B. CooLrDoE, a citizen ot the United States, residing at Rockford, in the county or Vlinnebago and State or illinois, have invented certain new and usefulV Improvements in Automatic Steering Attachments tor ll/llotor Vehicles, oi' which the following is a specification.

This invention pertains in general to steering mechanism for motor vehicles, and the primary object is to provide an attachment adapted to be applied to any motor vehicle and especially to Fords for automatically holding the steering wheels in straight-ahead position.

Another object is to provide an attachment oi the character described, which shall eliminate jerking and vibration of steering wheels caused by running over stones, rough roads or other obstructions, and which will generally improve steering conditions in also aimed to provide a steering nattachment so designed and constructed .i will be practical and durable for tl e purpose intended and will be capable or production at a comparatively low cost. ther objects and attendant'advantages will be appreciated by those familiar with this art as the invention becomes better understood by reference to the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a top view of a steering attachment embodying my invention, applied to a motor vehicle;

Fig. 2, a front view of the steering attachment and certain parts shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3, a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1; and

Figs. 4l, 5 and 6, front, top and end views respectively, of one of the brackets forming part ot the attachment. Referring now more particularly to Fig. l have shown somewhat diagrammatially a front axle 7 of a motor vehicle, pivot steering wheels 8, and rearwardly eX- tending` steering knuckle levers 9 joined at their rear ends by the connecting rod 11.

My improvements consist of a bracket 12 adapted to seat on the top of the axle 7 and be clamped thereto by U-shaped bolts 1?.

equipped with the usual cross bars 111 and nuts 15. The top of the bracket 12 is shaped to provide raised end portions 16 which prevent outward displacement o the U-bolts trom the bracket. This bracket has formed integral therewith, an upstanding pin 17 and spaced substantially therefrom an upstanding lug 18. Pivotally mounted on the pin 17 is a pair of lobster jaw levers 19 and 21 having` elongated ends E22 and Q3 respectively, the adjacent edges Qll of u ich converge forwardly as shown plainly in Fig. 1.

l An upstanding lug 25 bolted to the connectin rod 11 is disposed between the ends 22 an 23 and has a T-shaped head 26, whereb to prevent said ends from moving upwardly away from the lug. .f1 coil spring- 27 interposed between and connected medially to the levers 19 and 21 constantly urges their rear ends against the lug 9.5. In the normal position shown in Fig. 1, that is, with the wheels straight ahead the pressure oithe spring 27 will be applied through said levers, to the lug 25, but in the event that the wheels are turned in either direction one the other ot' said lobster j aw levers will he held against movement in such direction by reason of its'contact with the lug 18. In this regard, it will bc noted that each of said levers has an abutment 9,8 adapted by contactwith the lug 18. to stop pivotal movement in one direction. It follows from the foregoing that when the wheels are turned to the left as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, lthe lever 19 will remain in the tull line position shown, while the lever 21 will be swung to the dotted line position against the pressure of the spring 27. rlhis spring pressure will be utilized in returning the wheels tothe normal straight-ahead position. ln other words, the spring 27 functions to automatically maintain the wheels in the straight-ahead position and to assist in returning them to such position after turning. llt will now be noted' that by reason ot the particular arrangement ot the spring 27, its pressure is not increased directly in proportion to the linear travel ot the stud 25, but that due to the arc through which the ends of the spring travel by reason of their connection with the levers 19 and 21, there is a reduction in the spring pressure ratio. This makes steering easier as the spring pressure does not increase to the same extent when making a sharp turn as it would in the event that the spring pressure increased in direct proportion to the turning movement. On the other hand, the

full eect of the spring is utilized in maintaining the wheels in the straight-ahead position. The parts as shown herein are simple in construction and capable orn production at a comparatively low cost. They may be applied to practically any motor vehicle and are Vespecially adapted for Ford motor cars.

It will be observed that by casting the pivot -pin 17 and the lug 1S integral with the bracket 12, the cost of production is materially lowered; and furthermore by attaching the levers 19 and 21 -to an integral pivot pina such as 17,7and providing a bearing washer on ythe upper end of said pivot v pin held in position by a cotter pin for thus preventing displacement of the levers, there is no danger ofthe pivot pin working loose orthe levers being displaced as a result of vibration. lt will also be noted that by casting a single upstanding` stop lug` 18 iiitegral with the bracket 12, the levers 19 and 21 may be made flat,v thus simplifying the construction and reducing the cost of production. Another feature promoting; low cost oi' production is the casting Yot the lug 25 in two duplicate parts, that is7 from the same pattern, which also facilitates assembling. Y

It is believed that the foregoing` conveys a clear understanding' of the Objects prefaced above. and while I have illustrated but a single workinga embodiment of my invention, it should be understood that various changes might be made in details said pivot pin one above the other in theV lioriaontalplane of said stop lug, each lever being-recessed :tor the reception ot saidlug and one wall oit each recess abutting against said lug for limiting inward movement of its lever7 a contractile spring fory diawing said levers together against said lug and opposingoutwaid movement of the respective levers, means on the upper end of the pivot pin for preventing displacement of the levers, the rear end of each lever having an Velongated inner face an upstanding lug on the connecting rod comprising` two dupliy Vcate haltl sections adapted to be clamped against the front and back of said rod, and a boltabove and another below said rod connecting` said lug sections together and clamping them to the rod, said lug sections being disposed centrally between said inner lever faces on a centerline passing through 'the center of said upstanding lug and pivot pin on the bracket.

' Grenen B. oooiinjofn 

